Tabulating card producing machine



Nov. 18, 1941. H. w. BRUKER TABULATING' CARD PRODUCING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1941 INVENTOR W 4. BY

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 18, 1941 TABULATING CARD PRODUCING MACHINE Hobart W. Bruker, Bordentown, N. J., assignor to George W. Swift, Jr. Inc., Bordentown, corporation of New Jersey N. J., a

Application February 24, 1941, Serial No. 380,236

6 Claims.

The invention relates to a machine for cutting to size and printing tabulating cards, which are required to be so precisely accurate as to length and position of the printed matter that ordinary printing and cutting machines have not been found to satisfy the requirements; Machines have been designed to meet the above requirements which utilize a rotary printing cylinder having the type engraved in its cylindrical surface, the operation of cutting to length being performed on the printed web as it passes from the printing cylinder. In these machines the periphery of the cylinder must be precisely coordinated as to length with the card to be printed, so that the proper formation of the printing cylinder and positioning of the type thereon is a difficult and expensive matter. In machines of this type the relatively inexpensive electrotype printing plates cannot be used, since it is not practical to make electrotypes with sufficient accuracy to coordinate the resulting peripheral length of the printing cylinder to the length of the card with the required precision, nor to bend electrotypes into the required complete cylindrical form. Other machines for the above purpose have been designed which involve the use of a flat bed printer in conjunction with step by step feed of the paper web to the printer and then to a cut-off'mechanism, but these machines are objectionably slow in production.

The present invention aims primarily to provide a rotary tabulating card producing machine of a construction and mode of operation making it practical to use an inexpensive electrotype plate on the printing cylinder and yet meet requirements as to accuracy, thus avoiding the expense of the engraved printing cylinders above referred to, and making possible a rate of production much higher than has been possible with the flatbed printers above referred to. The cutting operation may be performed With precision -by simple rotary cutters operating in ad- Vance of the printing rolls and in conjunction with feed rolls which pass the web through the cutters and then to the printing cylinder in proper timed relation, the machine as a whole being simple and economical in construction, rapid in operation and yet producing the cards with the required accuracy, which as above stated, has not been true of printing and cutting machines used for general sheet cutting and printing purposes.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part specifically referred to in the description hereinafter 55 higher surface speed of the printingcylinders fil contained which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, discloses a tabulating card producing machine constructed to operate in accordance with the invention; such disclosure, however, should be regarded as merely illustrative of the invention in its broader a type of card which may be produced by the machine.

In accordance with the present invention the paper web after passing through a punch if desired, is fed by suitable feed rolls through a pair of, cut-off knives, these knives traveling at paper speed as they cut, and being timed to operate periodically to cut the blanks to the de-- sired length. The required accuracy in length may be obtained by using simple rotary cutting knives of proper diameter and speed of r-otation so selected with respect to the speed of feed of the web that the cutters sweep along substantially at web speed while cutting and make a complete revolution while the web is advancing between the cutters a distance equal to the length of the card to be produced. I The paper web thus cut may be then fed past rotary socalled corner-cutters, by the feeding rolls above referred to, in instances where cards with cutofi'corners are desired, the corner cutters being likewise coordinated as to speed and length of cut. The cut blanks will then be ready to pass to the printing cylinders. In order to make it practical to use an electrotype printing plate asabove described, I employ a printing cylinder which is timed to have the same number of R. P. M. as the cut-off knives above referred to, but is of diameter two or three times as large as the cut-off knives. The electrotype printing plate thusextends only part Way around the printing cylinder, and the surface speed of the printing plate is two or three times faster than the speed of feed of the web at the time When the latter is passing through the cutters. As the cut blanks are released from the feeding rolls as previously described, they are picked up by further feeding rolls which operate at the much and feed the cards between the printing cylinders in proper timed relation to the rotary movement of the arcuate electrotype plate.

The data on the electrotype being spaced with respect to each other within permissible tolerances, as may be done by. known processes, it is not necessary that the electrotype be finished to any precise length either with respect to the periphery of theprinting cylinder or the length of the tabulating card. The length of the electrotype will ordinarily be slightly greater than the length of the card, and it will extend about one-half or one-third the way around the printing cylinder, the remainder-of the periphery of the printing cylinder being idle, in contrast with ing machines as above referred to, wherein precise coordination was necessary between the pe-' ripheral length of the printing cylinder and the length of the card. Also since in the present machine the electrotype isw-rapped only part way around the printing cylinder, excessive strains and distortions-are avoided in bending it. from flatf to arcuate form.

Theinvention is illustrated as applied to a machine having aroll I fromwhich the web of paper 2 to be cut and printed is fed through a-decurler 3 of known construction and past a striping device 4 which also may be of known construction. A't this-stage the web is fed for wardly by feed rolls 5'and 6 which produce a loop 1 in-thewebas shown. Theweb' then passes through a friction brake 8 of known construction andthrough a punching mechanism denoted generally by numeral 9, which punches; holes in the web if 1 desired, andwhich will not bendescr-ib'edin detail asitsconst'ruction may be asde scribed in the patent to George W. Swift, Jr., No; 846,362, March-5;l1907.

' From the punching mechanism- 9 the web I passes -through-a register device consisting of-upper idlerrolls m and a lower idler roll H, which latter is mounted in bearing plates I2 adjustable vertically by means of screws l3. The purpose of the registerdevice is to bend the paper web more or less as-may berequired to bring the holespunched out by mechanism Stothe proper distances fro-m'theedges of theblank as determined'by the cut-off knives 18; I9 hereinafter descr-ibedq Atthis stage the web then passes between a set" of feed rolls M' and l5 which thus determine the speed of travel of the web as itpasses between the next succeeding cut-ofi rollsflfi and- IThav-in'g transverse cut-offknives l8' and l 9 -respectively thereon. From thence the web passes to further rolls 20 and 21 having corner cutting dies '2-2 and 23 thereon, which obliquely cutoff one corner of the forward edge of the" paper' web, as the latter advances beyond cut 'ofifrolls l6;- ll underthe action-of feed roll's il i, I5: f'rhefeed r-ollsl 5, 6 and l4, [5 are of course positively drivenat proper coordinated speeds such{ that their surface speed-equals the rate of feed 's'elected' for the paper web while passing l4, l5, and immediately comes into the zone of operation of a further set of feed rolls 24, 25, the roll 24 being preferably provided with a spring finger 26 which comes into action just ahead of the bite of rolls 24, 25, and just at the time the cut-01f operation has been completed by knives l8, l9, to insure that the cut blank will be drawn into the bite ofrolls 24, 25, which act to feed the. cut'blank between printing cylinder 21 and a pressure cylinder 28. In Fig. 3 I have shown the spring finger 25 as located in a recess 26a within the roll 24, and mounted upon. a stud 26b,

As previously mentioned the printing r011 21 is timed to. the same R. P. M. as the'cut-off rolls I6} l--'!, b'ut isv two or three times larger in diameter, so that its surface speed is two or three timesfa-ster than the rate of feed of the paper webbefore reaching feed rolls 24, 25. These feed rolls take hold just after the cut blank is fed from'its previous feed members, and are positively driven atsuch' rate that their surface speed is'- equal to the surface speed of printing roll 21;

An electrotype 29- pr'ocessedi inknown manner is: shown as arcuately bent to conform to the surface of printing cylinder 21', and detachably engaged therewith byclamps 3D; This plate. 29 of course" will carry the configurations conforming-5 to the data to be rprinted on. the card and is inked by rolls which are: indicated diagrammatically inzthe drawing but which need not-be describedvin detail. Invthei form shown the printingcylinder '21 is about; twice the diameter of the cut-off rolls I6 11: and therefore. the electrotype 29 Which will beo'f slightly greater over"- all length than thecardjextend's. only about half way around cylinder 21'; Theconfigurations-on plate" 29 which. are to be printed; of course: must be: spaced:- prop-erly with respect; to each. other" (which canbe accomplished: by known processes) but the accuracy of the printing is in nowi'se dependent upon any precise relationship between the: overall length of plate-29 in its bent form, and the length ofthecut'blank. Also, the length of the electrotype is: only a fraction of'the peripherallength'of cylinder-21 so that'in conforming it to the cylinder the electrot'yp'e does! not have to be bentsorseverely as to distort orotherwise injure it. Thus it becomes practical? to use the inexpensive electrotypes in the machine, and it has been found that the machine produces the cards rapidlyand within permissible tolerances as to length and position of the printed data with respect to each other and the edges of the card. In comparison with previous rotary machines as: abovementioned which have been capable-ofmeetin'g tabulatingrcard requirements,

the essential distinctions'are that in the present machine the cutting op'erationlisdone in advance of and separately from the. printing operation, an'd'i thatfthe printing step iszperformed' by acylind'er" which operates at substantially higher surface speed, the detachable printing plate extending only part way around the printing cylinder. and, operating: intermittently and having the cut'blanks' fed to it intermittently in timed relation. In other words; although the rotary parts move continuously, and'the web is continuously'fe'd tothe cut-off, the cut blanks are fed intermittently to the printing cylinder and the printing operation is intermittent;

If desired the machine may be readily arranged to cut and print webs of double the width of the card's, the double width blanks being fedfrom '75 the printing: cylinders 2T, 28' by feed rolls' 3|,

32 to slitter rolls 33, 34 which cut the blanks up into separate cards. In Fig. 4 I have shown a blank of the width of two tabulating cards, in the form it will assume before being cut by slitter 33 along the dot and dash line 44 of Fig. 4, the cut corners of the blank being indicated at 45.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the various positively rotated parts of the machine may be driven from a shaft 35 which may be understood as running alongside the machine. The feed rolls 5, 6 may be driven by a bevel gear 36 on shaft 35, meshing with a similar gear 31 on a shaft 6a which carries a gear 61) (Fig. 1) which drives the rolls and 6. A cross shaft 9a likewise driven through the gears 38 and 39, may be used to drive the hole-punching mechanism 9; Fig. 1 shows a gear 9b on shaft 9a which drives gears 9e, 9d and 90 for this purpose. The feed rolls l4, I5 may be driven by a cross shaft I5a connected to shaft 35 by bevel gears 40, M, Fig. 1 showing a gear IE!) on shaft [5a which drives the feed rolls I4, [5 and also the cut-off knives l8, IS; a gear 2!?) (Fig. 1) may be used to drive the corner cutters 22, 23. A cross shaft 28a driven from shaft 35 by bevel gears 42, 43 may drive the printing rolls 21, 28, a gear 28c being indicated in Fig. 1 for the purpose of driving the feed rolls 24, 25 from this cross shaft 28a. Except to the extent above stated, I have not described or illustrated the various shafts and gear trains used to drive the moving parts above referred to since power connections and driving mechanism suitable for the purpose are known to those skilled in the art, and likewise as to the details of construction of the various rolls, etc. which are used in the machine, and while the invention has been disclosed as carried out by the above described machine it should be understood that changes may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described constructed and arranged to produce printed cards within tabulating card requirements as to accuracy, said machine including positively acting feed rolls positioned to advance and determine the speed of travel of a paper web to be cut up into cards, a rotary cut-off knife located in the path of travel of such web and operating periodically to cut such web into blanks of the desired length, positively acting feed rolls positioned to receive the advancing blanks directly between them immediately after such blanks are severed from the advancing web by said cut-off, a rotary printing cylinder positioned to operate upon the cut blanks after passing said feed rolls, said printing cylinder having means for detachably attaching to a portion of its periphery an arcuately shaped printing plate of length approximating the length of the blank to be printed, said cylinder being timed to rotate at the same rate as said cut-off knife but being constructed and arranged of such large diameter that its surface speed is substantially greater than the aforesaid speed of paper Web travel and such that the printing plate receiving portion of said cylinder is confined to an arcuate fraction of its peripheral length, said second mentioned feed rolls being driven at a surface speed substantially equal to the surface speed of said printing cylinder.

2. A machine of the class described constructed and arranged to produce printed cards within tabulating card requirements as to accuracy, said machine including feed members positioned to advance and determine the speed of travel of a paper web to be cut up into cards, a cut-off located in the path of travel of such web and operating periodically to out such web into blanks of the desired length, positively acting feed rolls positioned to receive the advancing blanks directly between them immediately after such blanks are severed from the advancing web by said cut-off, a rotary printing cylinder positioned to operate upon the cut blanks after passing said feed rolls, said printing cylinder having means for detachably attaching to a portion of its periphery an arcuately shaped printing plate of length approximating the length of the blank to be printed, said cylinder rotating in timed relation with said cut-off, but being constructed and arranged of such large diameter that its surface speed is substantially greater than the aforesaid speed of paper web travel and such that the printing plate receiving portion of said cylinder is confined to an arcuate fraction of its peripheral length.

3. A machine of the class described constructed and arranged to produce printed cards within tabulating card requirements as to accuracy, said machine including feed members positioned to advance and determine the speed of travel of a paper web to be cut up into cards, a cut-off located in the path of travel of such web and operating periodically to out such web into blanks of the desired length, positively acting feed rolls positioned to receive the advancing blanks directly between them immediately after such blanks are severed from the advancing web by said cut-off, a rotary printing cylinder positioned to operate upon the cut blanks after passing said feed rolls, said printing cylinder having means for detachably attaching to a portion of its periphery an arcuately shaped printing plate of length approximating the length of the blank to be printed, said cylinder rotating in timed relation with said cut-off, but being constructed and arranged of such large diameter that its surface speed is substantially greater than the aforesaid speed of paper web travel and such that the printing plate receiving portion of said cylinder is confined to an arcuate fraction of its peripheral length, and a blank gripping device rotating with one of said feed rolls and yieldably urged to frictionally engage the forward edge portion of the blanks just prior to the bite of said feed rolls.

4. Amachine of the class described constructed and arranged to produce printed cards within tabulating card requirements as to accuracy, said machine including feed members positioned to advance and determine the speed of travel of a paper web to be cut up into cards, a cut-off located in the path of travel of such web and operating periodically to out such Web into blanks of the desired length, positively acting feed rolls positioned to receive the advancing blanks directly between them immediately after such blanks are severed from the advancing web by said cut-off, a rotary printing cylinder positioned to operate upon the cut blanks after passing said feed rolls, said printing cylinder having means for detachably attaching to a portion of its periphery an arcuately shaped printing plate of length approximating the length of the blank to be printed, said cylinder rotating in timed relation with said cut-off, but being constructed and arranged of such. large: diam-1 eter; thatvitstsurface speed is substantiallyigreater than-the": aforesaid speedi of: paper." web" travel and: such that the printing plate: receiving; portiontaof said! cylinder; is confined to" an arcuate fracti'omofitsz peripheral length; and.rotary. corn'en cutting: dies interposed between said outofiaian'd: feed. rolls and. positively" driven at a r surface? speed substantially. equalv to the 'speed of travel'ofithe paper web;

5. Amachine ofstheaclass describedzconstructe'd' anduarranged t'oa produce: printed cards. within tabulating card: requirements: as to: accuracy; saidmachine'including feed members positioned to: advance and determine the speed of travel of af-paperweb' to be cut up into cards, a cutoff located in theipath' of travel: of web web. and operating: periodically to cut such web into blanks of the" desired: length; a blank punching mechanism positioned ahead. of said cut-off and constructed to: travel; withuthe web at substantially the speed? of' travel of such web during the-punching period;. positively acting feed rolls positioned. to receive the advancing: blanks directly between them immediately after such blanks" are" severed from'the advancing web. by said cut-off;- a rotary'printing cylinder positioned to operate upon the'cut blanks after passing said feed" rolls; said printing cylinder having means fordetachably attaching? to a portion of its: periphery an! arcu'ately shaped printing plate of lengt-h approximating the length of the blank to be" printed; said cylinder rotatingin timed relation with saidcut-off; but being constructed and arranged of such large'diameter that its surface speed is. substantially greater than the aforesaid; speed of paper web: travel and such that the: printing. plate receiving portion ofsaid cylinder'isr'confin'ed to an. arcuate. fraction of its peripheral length-said feed rollsbeing; driven atia surface speed.substantially'equal t'o the 'surface speedof said printing: cylinder.

62 A machineof the class'described constructed and arranged to produce printed cards within tabulating card requirements 'as' to. accuracy, ,said machine; including; feed members positioned to advance=and determine the speed of travel of. a paper." web to be cut up into cards,. a cut-off located in. the: path of travel off such Web: and operating-periodicallyto' out such web into blanks of the dashed length, positively acting; feed rolls positioned to. receive the." advancing blanks directlybetween. them. immediately after such blanks are severed. from the: advancing web? by said cut-011. a? rotary printing cylinder positioned to operate upon the cut blanks after passing, said feed: rolls, said printing cylinder having means for detachably attaching to a port-ion of itsperiphery an arcuately shaped printingfplate'of length. approximating thelength of the blank .to be printed, said cylinder rotating irrtimed relation with. said cut-off, but being constructed and arranged of such large diameter thatiits surface speed is substantially greater" than the aforesaid: speed: of paperv Web travel and such: that" the printing plate receiving: porfraction of its peripheral length; saidcut- 01T, feed rollsa-nd printingcylinder being positioned to-pro'duce a substantially. plane path of travel of said Web and blanks during? the cuttingnand printing operations.

HOBARTv W. BRUKER..- 

